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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NOTICE: NOTICES

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 7, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) allow the renewal of the generic information collection project: ``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and Research for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.

This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 15, 2007 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. A 30day Federal Register notice was published on October 19, 2007 to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. No comments were received. However, changes to the estimated annual respondent burden hours and the methodologies that will be used for the data collection require an additional 30 days for public comment.

SUMMARY: Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Proposed Project
``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and Research for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.''

AHRQ plans to employ the latest techniques to improve its current data collections by developing new surveys, or information collection tools and methods, and by revising existing collections in anticipation of, or in response to, changes in the healthcare field, for a three year period. The clearance request is limited to research on information collection tools and methods, and related reports and does not extend to the collection of data for public release.

A generic clearance for this work allows AHRQ to draft and test [[Page 68886]]
information collection tools and methods more quickly, thereby managing project time more efficiently and improving the quality of the methodological data the agency collects.

In some instances the ability to pretest/pilottest information collection surveys, tool and methods, in anticipation of work, or early in a project, may result in the decision not to proceed with particular survey activities. This would save both public and private resources and effectively eliminate or reduce respondent burden.

Many of the tools AHRQ develops are made available to users in the private sector. The health care environment changes rapidly and requires a quick response from the agency to provide appropriately refined tools. A generic clearance for this methodological work will facilitate the agency's timely development of information collection tools and methods suitable for use in changing conditions.

It is particularly important to refine AHRQ's tools because they have a widespread impact. This tools are frequently made available to help the private sector to improve health care quality by enabling the gathering of useful data for analysis. They are also used to provide information about health care quality to consumers and purchasers so that they can make marketplace choices to influence and improve health care quality. The current clearance will expire January 31, 2008. This is a request for a generic approval from OMB to test information collection instruments and methods over the next three years. Methods of Collection

Participation in the testing of information collection tools and methods will be fully voluntary and nonparticipation will have no affect on eligibility for, or receipt of, future AHRQ health services research support or on future opportunities to participate in research or to obtain information research results. Specific estimation procedures, when used, will be described when we notify OMB as to actual studies conducted under the clearance.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1.Estimated Annualized Burden Hours Number of Type of information collection Number of responses per Hours per Total burden respondents respondent response hours Mail/email*............................ 8,000 1 20/60 2,667 Telephone............................... 200 1 40/60 134 Webbased............................... 2,000 1 10/60 334 Focus Groups............................ 100 1 2.0 200 Inperson............................... 200 1 1.0 200 Automated**............................. 500 1 1.0 500 Cognitive Lab Experiments............... 200 1 1.5 300

Totals.............................. 11,200 na na 4,335 * May include telephone nonresponse followup in which case the burden will not change. ** May include testing of database software, CAPI software or other automated technologies. Exhibit 2.Estimated Annualized Cost Burden Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost Type of information collection respondents hours wage rate* burden Mail/email*............................ 8,000 2,667 $30.00 $80,010 Telephone............................... 200 134 30.00 4,020 Webbased............................... 2,000 334 30.00 10,020 Focus Groups............................ 100 200 30.00 6,000 Inperson............................... 200 200 30.00 6,000 Automated**............................. 500 500 30.00 15,000 Cognitive Lab Experiments............... 200 300 30.00 9,000

Totals.............................. 11,200 4,335 30.00 130,050 * May include telephone nonresponse followup in which case the burden will not change. ** May include testing of database software, CAPI software or other automated technologies.

This information collection will not impose a cost burden on the respondents beyond that associated with their time to provide the required data. There will be no additional costs for capital equipment, software, computer services, etc.

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government

Information collections conducted under this generic clearance will in some cases be carried out under contract. Assuming four data collections per year (either mail/email, telephone, webbased or in person) at an average cost of $150,000 each, and two focus groups, automated data collections or lab experiments at an average cost of $20,000 each, total contract costs could be $640,000 per year. Request for Comments

In accordance with the abovecited Paperwork Reduction Act legislation, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ health care research and health care information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. [[Page 68887]]

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: November 29, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 075950 Filed 120507; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 4271477.